We have a six year old boy on good health except for his attention problems. He is on Ritalin to which he responds very well and is doing very well in school. However we would like more information on alternatives to Ritalin. We have looked at a product containing Tuna oil, Evening primrose oil, Vit. E, and Thyme oil. It is being sold under the name School Aid. We have some concerns because we have heard that Thyme has been implicated in some heart palpatations. Is this true and what advice do you offer in cases of ADD.

Thyme oil is very irritating to the mucous membranes, and there are many possible side effects of taking it internally, including cardiac problems, gastric pain and respiratory problems. Please see our answers to previous questions about attention deficit disorder on our website at http://www.richters.com. Choose "Q&A" from the main menu, then choose "Search Richters Q&A", and enter the word "attention" for the search.